Misbehaving — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˌmis-bi-ˈhāv/ mis·be·have

Meaning & Definition of Misbehaving

Misbehaving (verb)

  1. to conduct (oneself) badly or improperly
  2. to behave with poor manners or a lack of courtesy
  3. to behave with disregard for accepted moral standards especially in sexual matters

Misbehaving (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior

    "a new approach for disciplining a chronically misbehaving child"

    similar: bad, contrary, errant, froward, mischievous, naughty
    related: defiant, disrespectful, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impolite, improper, impudent, indecorous, insolent, rude, uncouth, unmannerly, disobedient, headstrong, intractable, obstreperous, recalcitrant, refractory, transgressing, unruly, untoward, willful, balky, restive, uncontrollable, ungovernable, wayward, wild, arch, elfish, impish, knavish, monkeying, monkeyish, ornery, pixieish, prankish, rascally, roguish, waggish, dissolute, perverse, wrongheaded, disorderly, rowdy, ruffianly, corrupt, evil, wicked, insurgent, mutinous, rebellious, disobliging, inconsiderate, selfish, thoughtless, unkind, unkindly, babyish, childish, immature, infantile, jejune, juvenile, kiddish, puerile
    opposite: behaved, behaving, nice, orderly
    near: acquiescent, compliant, complying, dutiful, obedient, submissive, clean, correct, decent, decorous, moral, proper, respectable, considerate, courteous, kindly, mannerly, polite, thoughtful, angelic, cherubic, divine, heavenly, amenable, docile, governable, tractable, amiable, complaisant, good-natured, obliging, pleasant, discreet, modest, adult, grown-up, mature

Misbehaving (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to behave badly

    "scolded the children for misbehaving and sent them to bed early"

    similar: acting out, acting up, carrying on, raising Cain, running riot
    related: misconducting, disobeying, rebelling, clowning (around), cutting up, fooling around, horsing around, kidding (around), showing off, roughhousing
    near: obeying, acquitting, acting, bearing, comporting, conducting, demeaning, deporting, quitting, complying, conforming, checking, collecting, composing, constraining, containing, controlling, curbing, handling, inhibiting, moving, quieting, repressing, restraining

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Misbehaving

The most common words with a similar meaning to Misbehaving:

bad, contrary, errant, froward, mischievous, naughty, acting out, acting up, carrying on, raising Cain, running riot

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Misbehaving

Words with the opposite meaning of Misbehaving:

behaved, behaving, nice, orderly

Related Words for Misbehaving

defiant, disrespectful, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impolite, improper, impudent, indecorous, insolent, rude, uncouth, unmannerly, disobedient, headstrong, intractable, obstreperous, recalcitrant, refractory, transgressing, unruly, untoward, willful, balky, restive, uncontrollable, ungovernable, wayward, wild, arch, elfish

Near Antonyms of Misbehaving

acquiescent, compliant, complying, dutiful, obedient, submissive, clean, correct, decent, decorous, moral, proper, respectable, considerate, courteous, kindly, mannerly, polite, thoughtful, angelic, cherubic, divine, heavenly, amenable, docile, governable, tractable, amiable, complaisant, good-natured

Word Forms of Misbehaving

Inflections: misbehaved

Derived words: misbehaver (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Misbehaving

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Misbehaving

What does "Misbehaving" mean?

"Misbehaving" means to conduct (oneself) badly or improperly. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to conduct (oneself) badly or improperly. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Misbehaving"?

Other words for "Misbehaving" include bad, contrary, errant, froward, mischievous, naughty, acting out and acting up. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Misbehaving" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Misbehaving"?

There are 87 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Misbehaving". Common alternatives include bad, contrary, errant, froward, mischievous, naughty, acting out, acting up, carrying on and raising Cain.

What is the opposite of "Misbehaving"?

Antonyms of "Misbehaving" include behaved, behaving, nice and orderly. Near antonyms include acquiescent, compliant, complying and dutiful.

How do you use "Misbehaving" in a sentence?

Examples of "Misbehaving" in a sentence: "a new approach for disciplining a chronically misbehaving child"; "scolded the children for misbehaving and sent them to bed early".

Is "Misbehaving" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Misbehaving" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Misbehaving"?

"Misbehaving" is pronounced /ˌmis-bi-ˈhāv/ and divided into syllables as mis·be·have.

What is the origin of the word "Misbehaving"?

First known use: 15th century.